John f



(No Model.)

-J F.-- FOSTER.

PENCIL CLASP. 110.273.268. Patented'iMar, 1883.

,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. FOSTER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PENCIL-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 273,268, dated March 6, 1883.

' l Application filed October 28, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN F. FOSTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sau Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improved Pencil-Holder, ot' which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of pencilholders which is-intended to be secured to the edge ot' the vest or other pocket, and to form a holder or receptacle for the pencil.

This invention consists in the peculiar formation of the clasp which secures the holder iu the pocket, by which the said holder is made available for pointing the lead, aniline stick, or crayon of the pencil or for striking matches.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is -a rear view, Fig. 2 is a front view, Fig. 3 is a It is stamped outof a metal sheet and bentinto shape, but not soldered orjoined at the meeting edges, not only on account of cheapness of construction, but also to allow the tube to expand when an eXtra-sized pencil is introduced therein. (See Figs. l and 4 The tube should be closed at the bottom.

C is a spring, which is formed by cutting out a strip ofthe metal of the tube and bending it into such a shape as will cause it to press with some force against the pencil when in the holder. As this strip is not parted from the tube at its upper end no soldering is required.

D is myimproved spring-clasp. It is made of hard brass or steel, and about ve-eighths of au inch wide. It is fastened to the tube at d, approaches close to it at d', and curves forward away from it at its lower edge. A portion of the faceot' this clasp is roughened like a le, as shown in'Fig. 2, though, if need be, the whole face may be so roughened. The clasp, when .made of brass, may be soldered ou the tube, but if made of steel it may be formed with a collar, as shown by dotted lines at zr, Fig. 3, and a rivet passed through it and the tube to hold it in place. The particular manner of putting the parts together is, however, a matter ot' choice with the manufacturer. The outward curve which is given to the clasp at the bottom selves the purpose of facilitating the passing of the edge ot' the pocket in between the holder and its clasp in the act ot' placingtheholderin position. Also,instriking a match it is important that the match, being struck and lighted, shculd be guided or directed away from the wearers clothing.

This holder may be made ot' any suitable material and should .be neatly polished or plated.

In using my improved pencil-holder, the wearer puts the tube inside the pocket and squeezes the cloth edge thereotl in between the clasp and the tube. The pencil is inserted into the tube point downward.

A match may be struck without removing the holder, but in pointing the pencil it may be well to remove the holdenand hold it horizontally in the left hand, while the pencil to be pointed is quickly moved over the roughened surface with the right hand.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by` Letters Patent, is as follows:

In a pencil-holder, the combination of a tube, A, and a broad rouglrfaced clasp, D, to hold the same in place, as and i'or the purpose 'herein described.

JOHN F. FOSTER.

Witnesses GEORGE PARDY, THoMAs BARCLAY. 

